Stabilizing platform



April 2, 1940.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 2, 1940- F. D. w. SEARING 2,195,428

STABILI ZING PLATFORM Filed Feb. 24, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I A ril 2,1940. F. D. w. SEARING STABILI Z ING PLATFORM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledFeb. 24, 1938 April 2, 1940- F. D. w. SEARING STABILIZING PLATFORM FiledFeb. 24, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 that the bracing members will notinterfere with the folding of the tracks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mode of constructingwheel shanks pivoted to the wheels but rigidly fastened to platforms,and also to provide wheel shanks for the. front of chair to furnishsupport to the chair and to retain same in a fixed position, saidsupports being preferably T-shaped,,running transversely across andunder the front of thechair seat.

In the'drawings accompanying this specification, one practicableembodiment of my invention is illustrated, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a view looking at this device from the side with a chairmounted on the stabilizer.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the stabilizer for the chair looking at thedevice from the top.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional viewv ofthe chair Fig. 6 is a view of theunderside of the chair and footrest.

Fig. '7 is a view looking at this device from the front side with a setof bed springs with head and foot attachments mounted on the stabilizer,the showing being on a reduced scale.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken at about the plane of the line 22 in Fig. '7 of the bed springs with head and foot attachments mountedon the-stabilizer.

Fig, 9 is a plan View of the bed stabilizer looking at the device fromthe top.

Fig. 10 is a viewof the underside of the table attachment. I v Fig. 11is a cross section through the middle cleat attached to the underside ofthe table attachment taken on line Il--ll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view of the underside of the desk attachment. v v a Fig, 13is a cross section through the middle cleat attached to the underside ofthe desk attachment taken on line iii-l5 of Fig. 12.

Fig, v14 is a front view of a wheel having openings in the rim toaccommodate riser or track flange. I

Fig. 15 shows the end view of a Set of tracks, one having a flangerunning transversely along the middle and one flat track without aflange.

Fig. 16 is an end'view of a set of tracks, one with a high flange onwhich the wheel runs without touching the base of the track, and oneflat track without flange.

Fig. 1'7 is the end view of a set of tracks with upward slantingflangesides, to accommodate and retain wheels.

The form of the device illustrated herein comprises three super-imposedmembers or frames, the lowest of which is particularly designed forresting upon the flooring of the deck of a ship, although it may beotherwise supported, and the upper platform in the chair stabilizer isrepresented bya pair of longitudinallydisposed planks or members l2 andI3, in Fig. 2, and a pair of transverse members l4 and I5, in Fig. 2,

and is the chair supporting member of the device, the openings I6 and I!calculated to receive the side members of the back of thepchair, and thesupports I9 and Zllextending upward from the front wheel shanksoperating in conjunction with the back wheel shanks 2|,in Fig. 1, retainand hold the chair in a firm position as tomove- One purpose of myinvention is to mount thistop frame supporting the necessary elements ofa chair and footrest on two sets of wheels running'on'transverselydisposed tracks to afford a universal adjustment so that the topplatform of the chair which it supports will remain level despite therolling and pitching of the ship in any direction. For purposes ofgreater stability and rapid resistance to boat motion and to avoidtop-heaviness, and for the purpose of overcoming inertia of the partsand of friction of the rollers and their associated parts, and for thepurpose of resisting oscillation due to body movements of the occupantof the chair, I attach to the top platform by, means of two foldinglevers, 22 and 23, Fig. 1, pivoted totwo right angle pieces 24 and 25,Fig. 3, and to two non-folding side levers 26 and 21, Figs. 1 and3,'somewhat shorter than the folding levers, a counterpoise I61, Fig. 3,preferably in the nature of a heavy body whoseweight is approximately 30to 40 lbs, and. is determined by the approximate weight of the person orbody which is to be supported by the stabilizer.- The purpose of, usinglevers for fastening'theweight control to the top platform is toincrease the effectiveness of the weight control by giving it a greaterleverage pull in maintaining the top platform in a level position at alltimes againstbody motion and body' movements of theoccupant of thechair, and to give quick adjustment to boat motion.

Four species of tracks preferably of non-rust metal may be used, eachand all of which will the track, the other track being of flat metal.

without the middle flange, Fig, 15, and the wheel on said flat metaltrack having no opening in its rim, the two wheels having the opening inthe rim covering the flange track acting as guide wheels and providingmeans for retaining the wheels on the tracks, thus avoiding friction andjamming of the wheels in case the track members should get out of truealignment.

A second species of tracks and Wheels consists of having both trackswith a middle flange and both wheels to accommodate the flange on eachtrack with more play room between the sides of the flange andthe sidesof the opening in the rim so that bothtracks and both sets of wheels aidin retaining. the wheels on the track.

- A third species of wheels and tracks is, as in Fig. 16, wherein oneset of wheelshave openings in the rim and the opposite set runs ona flattrack, but the flange is of such height with respect to the opening inthe rim of the wheel that the wheel runs on the flange and not onthetrack, the opposite set or 'wheelsrun'ning on a. flattrack. 1 The fourthspecies of tracksland wheels are erably of metal-the width'of thetrack-supporting member and having up wardly sloping sides,

the two sloping sides being" considerably wider, apart than the Width ofthe wheels to runon it so as to allow considerable iplaywroom for thewheels between the sides .of the tracks, the said tracks being curved tofit "the .trackssupporting members and being fastened thereto by means.of screws running through the. bottomiof the track or through flangesextending from the bottom of the track. The chair to be mounted-on thestabilizer consists: of aback .28, seat 33, footrest 3G, andarms 31,Fig. l. The back of the'chairis piv'oted32,

Fig. 3, to the side member of the seat 33s0 that the seat fold-s upward.The arms of the chair are-pivoted 34 so that they also fold upward withthe seat. The arms eachconsist of. twomembers, namely, the upright 35,which'is' pivoted to the seat of the chair at 36, and the top of theupright which is pivoted to the" front of the arms [3'1 by means ofhingesthe footrest 39 being attached tothefront of the chair seat bymeans of hinges 38, Fig. 3 so that the footrest folds down and under theseat, and is s pported-when unfolded and in position'for use by two.supports,

preferably of metal, iiflypivoted to stripe tilias- .tened to the bottomof the chairand extending downward a suitable distance tocgivethesupports 39 a proper resistance tosustain-the footre'st 56. Theotherends of the supporting braces. 39 engage. the footrest 3B ata screw witharound head M, Fig. 1, which moves in an opening t5 traversingthe lengthof the braces 39: up to the point of extreme end of the openingA5,-which.opening is curved to receive andfiretano' the'screw when thefootrest is extended'for' use. The screw is locked in this opening-bymeans of a fla't strip, preferably of metal 52, pivotedto the end of thebrace at 43, Fig. 5, having a small handle ilso that the strip 42 holdsthe's'crewin its position when the screw is. in the opening toaccommodate it and the screw mayberelease'd by turning :the strip-d2 onits pivot and-the braces-39 permit the chair to be foldedWhen'unlockedfby means of the screw 4! traversing the-opening'tfixalongthe length of the brace. V 1

To thesiole members of the back of the chair are fastenedmetal braces45', Fig. 3, which by contacting the underside'of the seat members,

limit the backward movement, of the chair t'o'a proper position,andsaid" braces 46' onreach side of the chair fit into the openings I6and N, Fig. 2,

in the, top platform on each side thereof and limit the movement of thechair from' 'uside to side, and together with the TT shaped metalsupports IBand 20, Fig. 2, in front-of'and under the chair, and thewheel shanks 2|", Fig. 1, look the chair in a true and proper positionfor use when same is unfolded and placedupo'n the top platform by adownward movement. Underneath the chair, and attached to the lower partof the arm of the chair member-.35; is a metal crossbar 50, Fig. 1, togive the'arms' proper rigidity.

The front part of the bottom of the chair is supported by two FT-shapedcrosspie'ees I9 and Zilrising from and attached-t0 the wheel shanks ofthe front wheels, which TT-shap'ed'supports' are the right heightto'give the bottom ofthe chair a proper slant-downwardfrom' the'fron'tof the chair'tothe backsothatrthe chairis' held in I a fiiredsoouioto position, onetime weight or the personis properly balanced onthe stabilizer; Y

" Dress or clothing guards 5| are attached to the under partoi each sidei of. the. front of the chair immediately over the front track and havethe same curve as the track;v Theseguards are for the purpose of keepingthe clothing of the occupant of the chair from-contacting the tracks. i

i with the addition of the letter a to each of such numbers] H I Thewheels I59 and I60','-Fig. 2, are setclose Iii together to lessen thetendency to oscillationg from body mo'veme'nt of the occupant of '.-the

chair, and also-so that the track support -I'I4a, Fig. '1, may beshortened so-that it does not rise to an inconvenient'height" in orderto: ac'-: commodate th'eltwo close wheels I59, I60, Fig.2;

and also for the purpose of lowering the wheels I I59; I60, so thattheydoznot'project'through the bottom of-the chair.; I The wheels IGIand I62 are set far enoughapart to' clausetadjustment -,to boat motion.-Thewheels' I63 and Itlare also-placed closer together than. thoseon; the

(opposite, track, I an( il ltifi, soas to lessen the tendency tooscillation' from body fmoveme'nts of the occupantof the chair and. alsoso that the. track support of wheels. I53 and 'lfil may be shortened,and access to the chair made more easy. v p Thebed consists of a setofsprings 52', Fig.:.7, with end'brackets" at head Sandioot of springs"53'. i Said brackets ar'eywithout legs andiengage' the springs 52 bymeans of projections from spring 54 iin bracket'openingsl55 and are fastened to said springs by bolt 56'. The side memhereof the springs 52rest'upon raised members 51 fastened tothe' topfplat'f0rm 58 and.bracedby braces 59, Fig. 9. In thetopl'if-saidv supportsreceivingprojections, preferably metal bolts fas-J tened' to the'bottom of'thesprings, one at BI and one on opposite side ofspringsfo'r the purpose offastening the] bed springs to" their support in aproper position, havingregard to the weight of a person occupying the said bed: and

the distribution of their weight ata'proper-bal ance. To give additionalbracing to the bed springs and to facilitate placing them in properposition, side braceslili'and I03 are attached to i the supportingmember EI'and similar braces porting member'fil, so that when the bedspririgs are placed upon the stabilizer, the bolt at St and also asimilar bolton theopposite member of the bed springs fit into openingsIt! and" IE8} Fig. 9, and hold the bed in proper position as-to weightdistribution one prevent movement to: ward the head/or foot of the'bed',and the four projecting members- Hi2, Iiltflii i and I05 hold thesprings infirm position so that they cannot be moved sidewise, the bedbeing'thus held in] proper place and againstmovement in any 'direction'except upward, themotion used'fin taking the'fisprings off thestabilizer} e2; 63, Fig. 7, of; thefintermediateframe on tne' front: orloweritra'ck supporting member More The wheels; 1

running on the back track supporting member,

the wheels 65 and 66 being sufficiently far apart to cause adjustment toboat motion- The wheels 62 and 63 are set closev together to lessen thetendency to oscillation from body movements of. the occupant of thebedand also so that the track support 64, Fig; 7,' may be shortened sothat it does not rise above the mat tress .on the'springs 52. The wheels61 and 68, Fig. 8', supporting the top platform at the foot of the bedare also placed close together to avoid oscillation and also to shortenthe track 'II,

Fig. 8, so that it also will not rise above the mattress and will beofapproximately the same height as the contiguous track support 64, thusmaking easy access to the bed. The back wheels 69 and 10 of the topplatform are set wideenough out of an opening'to receive the end of saidbrake.

in the adjacent track support. These brakes, when set, fasten the topplatform to the track I .supportsof the top platform, and theintermediate platform has brakes 80 and 8| fastened to the tracksupports of, the intermediate platform by round-headed screws andstrips-of metal similar to brakes I4 and I5 on the topplatform. Bymoving the brakes 8iljand 8|, Fig. 9, the'same can be'moved into theopening in the track support connected with the base platform so that bythe operation of the full set'ofbrakes; motion in all directions" isstopped and the bed can be used as anordinary bed at the convenience ofI the occupant. Small handles '82, 83, 84 and 85a are attached to thebrakes to facilitate their movement. In place. of the metal strips de-,scribed, ordinary bolts can be used when fastened in the place of themetal strips.

'I'heweight control I68 for the bed is supported by four levers, 85, 86,81 and 88, the one opposite and parallel to 86, all of said levers beingof the same length and fastened to the underside of the crosspieces 89and 90, and extending downward at right angles to the crosspieces 89and. 90. The ends of the levers have holes 9| containing a hook, and tothis hook in each one of the ends of the levers are attached straps,preferably'of canvas,by means of snapbuckles on the end of the strap,and the other end of the strap is attached to an eyelet in the head ofthe weight by a snapbuckle attached to the other end of the said strap,the top of the weight control containing a depression so that theeyelets set therein do not project above the top rim of the depression,thus permitting the various weights to be piled one on top of the otherwhen the various beds are taken down and folded up. The said leversgreatly increase the effectiveness of the weight by giving it'a lever-'age pull from the ends of the levers andv make it quicker and moreeffective in overcoming friction and inertia and in holding the topplatform level against boat motion and body movement of the occupant ofthe chair or bed. Bed clothing guards I58, preferably of metal areattached to the underside of the bed springs covering the r 2,195,428set closer together than the wheels -65 and66- tracksat the head. of thebed on each side and at the foot thereof on each side. These guards havethe same curve as the tracks they cover and are located about an inchabove the track.

The method of supporting. the folding sides when unfolded and 'set forreceiving the platforms is accomplished by having the bottom members ofthe bottom frame 92 and 93 of Fig. '7 project beyond the track support64, and attachedto-track support 64 are two blocks or cleats 94.and 95,fastened to the track support 64 so that the edges of the cleats 94 and95 project slightly beyond the bottom of the track.

support 64 and when the track support is raised the cleats 94 and 95contact the projecting members 92 and.93 and hold the track supportunder ordinary pressure so that it inclines slightly inward. The trackis then forced to an upright end of each track support so that all fourcorners of the bottom frame have braces similar to the two described.Thus the track supports are held in a firm and rigid position and arekept in true alignment, and wobbling under the weight of the occupantand from the motion of the boat is prevented. This'rigidity is furtherincreased in the chair stabilizer by wooden braces I69, III) and III,Fig. 2, which are curved wooden or metal braces fastened .to the sidesof the track supporting members, um and I55, Fig. 2, set into projectingscrews I I2 and H3, and locked to said screws by hooks pivoted to thesaid brace I09,

and the hook part engaging an eyelet I51, Fig. 1, to prevent thebracefrom being knocked out of position, and similar means are used tofasten braces III) and III, Fig. 2. The bracing of the intermediatetrack supports I I4 and I58, Fig.

I 7, is obtained by placing the track supports on the supporting frameso that the supporting frame projects at H6 and Ill, Fig. 7, and byfastening to each of the folding track supports blocks H8 and II9,'saidblocks projecting beyond the bottom of the track support so that blockII8 contacts the projecting frame H6 and block I I9 contacts projectingframe II! so asto hold the track supports under ordinary pressure in aslightly inward ihclinedposition. Similar blocks are fastened to theother ends of each of the track supports and contact inlike fashion theprojectmg platform. The track supporting members are then forced to, andheld in a perpendicular positi'on by braces I20 and I2I, Fig 9, from theinside of said track supporting members pivoted to the bottom member ofthe intermediate platform at I22 and. I 23, and similar braces at otherend of each track support, engage the track supporting members at theprojecting screw heads I24 and I25, Fig. '9, and similar screw heads atother end of. each track support. Thus without interference with themovement of the platforms,

the upstandingtrack supports are held firmly and rigidly and in truealignment.

Brakes for the chair are provided for the purpose of holding the chairstationary when the boat is not rolling or pitching, so that the chairmaybe used as an ordinary non-adjusting chair under such circumstances,at the will of the oc- .cupant. The brakes consist of three partscalculated to. prevent motion on the curved tracks in any direction. Thebrake for stopping motion on the curved tracks from one side to anotherof the person sitting in the chair consists of a single piece of metalI26, Fig. 3, pivoted on to the end of an upright piece of metal I21 setinto the middle of a block 48, of either wood or metal, which block 48is fastened to the bottom of the top platform at about the middle. Theupright piece of material or metal I2'I, Fig. 3, has an oblong openingabout inch long and about g inch Wide. When the upright piece of metalis placed in the middle of the .block of wood, a wire nail or otherpiece of metal is driven through the wood and through the opening in themetal so. that the upright piece of metal when used as a handle willcause the metal strip I23, Fig. 3,

to which it is attached to go forward and back as desired and when themetal goes forward, it penetrates into the side of the back tracksupport at I28 and prevents motion from side to side of a person sittingin the chair. The metal strip I26 which penetrates the track support andwhich is pivoted to the uprightpiece of metal I21, runs along the middleof the opening of the block of wood 48, abovementioned, in which thebrake is set, and is retained in its position by metal pieces set acrossthe opening in the bottom of the wooden block. The brakes for stoppingmotion on the other two tracks consist of .two metal pieces I29 and I30,Fig. 4. The said strips, preferably of metal, I29 and I30, containoblong openings through which round-headed screws fasten the strips tothe back track supporting member which rests upon the intermediateframe. The said strips contain at the inner lower end metal projectionsabout inch long I3! and I32 and about A inch in diameter, which arepivoted to upright pieces of metal i33' and I34, which upright pieces ofmetal are in turn pivoted to the back track supporting member of theintermediate frame Q35 by pivots 49, preferably round-headed screwsdriven through the oblong opening in or about the center of said uprightstrips I33 and I34, so that the upright pieces of metal I33 and I34 maybe used as levers to force the metal strips into the sides of theupright track supports when the brakes are set, and to force them outwhen the brakes are off. These two brakes hold the intermediate platformfrom motion front and back and all three brakes when set hold theplatforms locked against motion in any direction. Ordinary bolts may beused in place of the brakes described when fastened in place of themetal strips.

, Wheel shanks The wheel shanks I38 and I39, Fig. 8, are

pivoted to the wheels I51 and 68 respectively and are rigidly fastenedunderneath the frames at I43 and I41, and all the wheel shanks in boththe chair stabilizer and the bed stabilizer are rigidlyfastened to the.platforms in like fashion and not pivoted thereto. The wheel shanks areso placed that it seems to be unnecessary to fold them down, and moresatisfactory adjustment is claim and desire'to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In a base for selfleveling shipschairs which include superposedframes each formed to provide pairs of oppositely disposed arcuatetracks of equal radiusfon the upper surfaces thereof, one track of. eachpair formed by a smaller segment of arc than the other track of saidpair, pairs of axleflmeans rigidly mounted on the frames the axles ofeach pair being spaced apart, wheel means on the axles rotatablyengaging said tracks, the wheels of each pair of wheels on each track oflesser segment being mounted closer together than the wheels on theother track of said pair whereby said pairs of wheels on the tracks ofless segments are more insensitive to motion than are the wheels on theother tracks.

' 2. In a device as claimedin claim 1 wherein the track positioned atthe front of the chair is formed by a less are than the other track ofsaid thereon are formed to provide flanged interen- FREDERICK D. W.SEARING.

